5 Warning Signs Your Loved One Might Be Hiding Dementia

By Kyle McDaniel, 9:00 am on September 13, 2018

Many seniors try to hide symptoms of dementia from their family members. However, failing to get help could cause the condition to progress quickly. Once you understand the warning signs of dementia, it may be difficult for your aging parent to hide the condition. Here are some of the signs your loved one might be hiding dementia symptoms.

1. Short-Term Memory Issues

Engage with your parent as often as possible to determine if he or she is experiencing memory loss. You can ask questions about the topic of discussion at yesterday’s dinner or the outfit your parent wore to the doctor last week. These are things your loved one should remember. It may be difficult to recall conversations from last year, but the topics you two discussed recently should be retained. In the event your loved one forgets these conversations or has difficulty remembering family members and close friends, he or she could be developing dementia.

If your senior loved one has been diagnosed with a serious condition and needs help with tasks like meal prep, transportation, bathing, and grooming, reach out to Home Care Assistance, a leading provider of home care Conway, AR, families can trust. We also offer comprehensive care for seniors with dementia, Alzheimer’s, and Parkinson’s.

2. Refusal to Do Things without Assistance

You should encourage your loved one to manage daily tasks independently. If your parent relies on you or his or her spouse for everything, it could be a warning sign of dementia. To identify signs of dementia, you need to pay close attention if your parent is overly dependent.

Living independently is important for seniors who want to maintain a high quality of life. For some, this simply means receiving help with tasks that have become more challenging to manage over time. Even when families have the best intentions, they may not have the time to provide the care their elderly loved ones need and deserve. If your loved one needs help for a few hours a day or a few days a week, reach out to Home Care Assistance, a trusted provider of respite care Conway seniors can depend on

3. Constant Denial

Seniors who are hiding dementia symptoms often refuse to take blame for anything. Instead of admitting they misplaced the car keys, older adults may accuse someone of stealing. They may also make excuses for why they did something out of the norm, like sleeping in the wrong bed or taking the wrong medication. Denial can be dangerous, especially when seniors are trying to hide a serious health condition such as dementia.

4. Increased Isolation

Silence, isolation, and irritation are strong signs of dementia. The disease causes mood and behavioral changes, even during its early stages. If your loved one isolates him or herself from other people, step in and find out the reason for this behavior.

5. Lack of Creativity

Your loved one doesn’t have to get up each morning to paint pictures or create music, but refusing to try new things could be a warning sign of dementia. The inability to retain information may be holding your loved one back from learning something new.

Dementia is one of the most serious medical conditions among the elderly. If your elderly loved one is living with a serious medical condition and needs help managing the tasks of daily living, reach out to Home Care Assistance, a Conway senior care agency you can trust. Our caregivers are available 24/7, there are no hidden fees in our contracts, and we offer a 100% satisfaction guarantee on all of our in-home care services. To create a comprehensive in-home care plan for your parent, give us a call at (501) 764-1312 today.